Tag: Jesus

Set Apart

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God . . . (Rom. 1:1)

On a recent trip to Michigan to visit my brother, my family and I wanted to find one of the excellent roadside produce stands the area is known for. We had almost given up on finding one when a trip to a nearby state park took us by an Amish farm with a roadside stand. The stand was set so far back from the road that we weren’t sure it really was one, so after exploring the state park, we decided to see if we could find it again.

We did, and what a fun experience it was. Items were placed on shelves and tables and inside a cooler that wasn’t turned on (no electricity!), with price tags attached or on signs in front of the items. A bucket to collect payment sat on one of the tables. No one manned the stand—it was completely on the honor system. The stand was just a few feet from the house, and while we shopped, we could hear the women inside chattering away in a language we couldn’t understand, most likely preparing supper based on the time of day. Continue reading “Set Apart” →

Update on Charlie Bones

Posted on by Staci Mauney

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

In my last blog post, I wrote about how Charlie Bones played so hard that he ran into a doorframe, gave himself a concussion, and had to spend the night in the puppy ICU. (You can read that post here.) Five days after that, he started having symptoms again—wobbliness, lethargy, and sensitivity to touch. He hadn’t hit his head again, but we had gone for a short walk. I worried that I’d allowed him to do too much too soon, and back we went to the hospital for more tests. Continue reading “Update on Charlie Bones” →

The Heart: What Makes Us Who We Are

Posted on by Staci Mauney

This post appeared previously on February 28, 2021.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” (Mt. 22:37)

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation to make February American Heart Month. With the ongoing, global COVID pandemic, paying attention to our heart health carries even more importance since the virus impacts the heart. Continue reading “The Heart: What Makes Us Who We Are” →

Connecting with a Stranger

Posted on by Staci Mauney

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:12)

A recent trip to JCPenney provided an unexpected opportunity to connect with a stranger. When I was checking out, I noticed that the employee was wearing a sparkly necklace in the shape of a paw print. I hesitated to say anything. My shyness still comes out sometimes in these situations, but I felt a nudge, then thought, Why not? What could it hurt? Almost everyone appreciates a compliment, right?

So I complimented her on the necklace, and she told me that she’s a dog mom. She mentioned that she doesn’t have any kids of her own, but her dog is her baby. I told her that I’m the same way—and then I showed her a picture of Charlie I pulled up on my phone. She, in turn, showed me a picture of her dog. We talked about how spoiled they are and laughed, knowing exactly what the other meant. Continue reading “Connecting with a Stranger” →

The Valentine’s Day Dinner

Posted on by Staci Mauney

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

Years ago, I attended a small Baptist church in my hometown. When I say “small,” I mean that we had about fifteen to twenty regular attendees. I was by far the youngest attendee—by about twenty years.

One year, the women of the church decided to hold a Valentine’s Day dinner. They fixed lasagna, salad, and breadsticks—yum.

But I wasn’t going to go. I thought it wasn’t for me because I was recently divorced, and honestly, the last thing I wanted to do was celebrate love.

Eventually, I changed my mind. I don’t remember who convinced me. Maybe it was my mom, or maybe it was my aunt, who played the piano at church and helped organize the dinner. Both of them knew I didn’t need to be sitting around by myself, moping the night away. Continue reading “The Valentine’s Day Dinner” →